Thomas County Economic Development Board Recap
October 15, 2025
The Thomas County Economic Development Alliance gathered for its October board meeting on October 15 at the soon-to-open Comfort Inn Suites, where members discussed ongoing projects, community programs, and strategies to strengthen local workforce and housing opportunities.
The meeting opened with financials, where the board noted a rare monthly profit of $9,471. Executive Director Vernon Hurd reminded members that while the month ended positive, “we will not be in the positive at the end of the year,” explaining that the alliance traditionally spends down funds through community reinvestment and project costs.
City Manager Ron Alexander reported progress at the Colby Municipal Airport, noting substantial concrete poured for the new taxi lane extension. “Once the dirt work is done, they’ll be able to connect to the full plan,” he said, adding that all business loans are current.
During his director’s report, Hurd highlighted continued interest in the proposed incubator kitchen, an initiative designed to help small food entrepreneurs transition into commercial operations. “There are plenty of grants available to start the project,” he said, “but sustaining it long-term is the challenge.” Board discussion centered around licensing requirements, which would require each user to hold a food processing license. The goal, Hurd emphasized, is to “help entrepreneurs get off their feet if they want to move into commercial food service—sort of a jumping-off point to limit their investment cost until they know it’s a viable business.”
Housing once again took center stage as a pressing community issue. A recent housing workshop drew local interest, including one family already planning a new single-family build and an investor exploring duplex construction. “Housing is our Achilles heel,” Alexander told the board. “There are plenty of jobs available, but there’s nowhere for new residents to relocate to.” He encouraged city collaboration to identify vacant in-town lots rather than expanding into new developments.
The group also discussed the potential revival of a business “pitch competition,” last held in 2018, designed to inspire local entrepreneurship with prize funding and community support.
In workforce development, Hurd highlighted training and recruitment grant activity, including a new childcare concept tied to Citizens Health. The project may explore a combined daycare and senior center model, similar to the Life Center in Logan, Kansas. “It brings together generations and improves quality of life,” he said, while also addressing the financial struggles of the current Senior Center.
The alliance is also exploring participation in the Patterson Foundation’s Heartland Rural Innovator Initiative, which provides funding for collaborative research and workforce development.
In new business, Network Kansas representative shared updates about upcoming trainings, loan programs, and the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (YEC). The state-level YEC competition will expand to two days next year due to growing participation. Network Kansas continues to seek pilot communities for new business development programs and offers technical assistance grants of up to $1,000 for small businesses tied to their network.
As the meeting concluded, board members expressed optimism about the Comfort Inn Suites nearing completion and ongoing community investment across Thomas County. The next board meeting will continue discussions on housing, entrepreneurship, and local infrastructure growth.